Sunday, November 19, 2006

I accomplished my weekend running goals and felt great. Just goes to show that the extra rest day was a good idea. Yesterday we enjoyed partly cloudy skies and 38 degree temps. Today we enjoyed (?) pouring, steady rain - big fat drops and temps of 47. By the time we finished my shoes were squishy-wet and I was soaked all the way through. I sure hope it clears before next Sunday!

Seattle Marathon...it's kinda scary. Everyone talks about the hills and what a tough course it is. The weather is usually either really cold or steady rain, sometimes with wind. They open the course at 6 hours - which is a little nerve-wracking for a marathoner with a 6:08 and 5:54 under her belt. (They still have volunteers at the finish, and limited volunteers on the course). It's my third one in two months and I'm probably more nervous than I was for either of the other two.

Once again, Sunday will be a family affair. Riley will be running the half - he last ran it in 2003 when he was 14. Seattle was Eric's first marathon. The one he ran and then said "Never again." It was in 1998 and the rain was coming down sideways that day. He finished in 3:47, cold and miserable. He didn't run another marathon for four years. But then he went nuts, and has now logged 17 marathons and four ultras. He claims he's running it next weekend because of peer pressure - hah! He just can't pass up a race these days.

I've got a strong urge to fit a couple more marathons in somewhere between now and Yakima. The reason is two-fold: first, I want to keep this level of fitness up and it seems like the easiest way to do it; and two (yes, this is silly) doing 6 in 6 months would earn me another star in the maniac rankings. That's right - I want to be a two-star runner! I'm not sure where this desire is coming from, I think maybe because it's an achievable goal.

Lately, I've been going to bed at night and thinking just how lucky I am. I had a dream that I thought was impossible...and now it's come true. I'm running marathons. Me! The slow-poke, back-of-the-pack runner. Me! The one who was always feeling tired and sick. Me! The one that everyone ran with when they were injured or recovering. Me! The one all the beginning runners went out with, and soon left behind. I did it. Me! I'm running marathons and thankful for it every day.

No need to worry about Seattle. Remember, you're amongst friends and even in the midst of the rain and the wind the once impossible dream has come true. Remember to pinch yourself somewhere along the course.

Having gotten to know you a little bit these past few months, I have to admit, you're losing it woman! LOL. Maniac, indeed! I think about you often when I am running. You have so much to be proud and thankful for...

I can so understand and relate to your last paragraph, the one where you go on about how you have achieved what you once thought impossible.

Anyway, I hope to see you sometime on Sunday. I don't think you'll have any problem with the course closing. While you are out there, though, keep an eye out for Pat; he's doing the full (on very little training) while I'm doing the half.